Four lesbian couples make history, marry in McHenry

Woodstock woman who wed partner of 26 years: ‘We are making history’

By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO -
sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com

June 9, 2014

Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com

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Deb Glaubke and Gale Harris of Woodstock celebrate Sunday after being pronounced married at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry. Glaubke and Harris have been a couple for 26 years, and applied for their marriage liscence as son as possible on June 1, 2014. "We are on the cusp of a social evolution. Something is really changing in this country and across this planet," said Harris. "It's the historical significance of today."

Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com

Caption

Couples Barb Oesterle (left) and Mary Fleming share their first dance as married couples with Deb Glaubke and Gale Harris on Sunday at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry. "I'm just happy people are recognizing that we should have a right to be married," said Fleming It took a long time, and I'm happy that I married her."

Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com

Caption

Rev. Sean Parker Dennison signs the marriage license for with newlyweds Gale Harris and Deb Glaubke at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry. "Marriage is a step forward, but our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person does not end here," said Dennison.

Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com

Caption

Rev. Sean Parker Dennison announces the four couples officially married Sunday at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry. "Marriage is a step forward, but our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person does not end here," said Dennison.

Kyle Grillot - kgrillot@shawmedia.com

Caption

Barb Oesterle, and Mary Fleming, both of Wonder Lake, exchange vows as Robert Jackson officiates their marriage Sunday as Barb's niece, Isa Peterson (right), wipes away tears at Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry. "I'm just happy people are recognizing that we should have a right to be married," said Fleming It took a long time, and I'm happy that I married her."

McHENRY – The significance of Sunday became clearer for Gale Harris and Deb Glaubke in the moments before they walked hand-in-hand down the aisle at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry.

Locked into a 26-year-old relationship, the lesbian couple from Woodstock already had major celebrations for their commitment ceremony in 1989, a year after the two met at a friend’s party, and again in 2012 after entering into a civil union.

But the ho-hum feeling of Sunday being just another milestone quickly gave way to anxiousness and excitement for a couple waiting more than two decades to say “I do” and have it legally mean something.

“We are on the cusp of a social evolution. Something is really changing in this country and across this planet,” said the 73-year-old Harris. “It’s the historical significance of today.”

Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of a long journey reaching its end Sunday, Glaubke described the couple’s wedding day more succinctly.

“We are making history,” she said.

The Woodstock couple joined three other lesbian couples from Wonder Lake, Palatine and Round Lake to share vows and exchange rings in front of the Tree of Life congregation Sunday, exactly a week after the gay marriage law in Illinois took effect.

Officials at the McHenry County Clerk’s Office earlier in the week joined Illinois’ 101 other counties in issuing same-sex marriage licenses and converting civil unions for the first time. On Monday, Harris and Glaubke were the first same-sex couple in the county to receive their marriage license.

Dennison reminded the roughly 170 people who witnessed the festivities that the day was about celebration and a chance to renew their dedication to the cause of equality.

“Marriage is a step forward, but our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person does not end here,” he said.

For Mary Fleming and Barb Oesterle, the Wonder Lake couple struggled to contain their excitement as they ate wedding cake and snapped photos with friends and family.

Jodi Kuperman and Megan Meyer, who came from Palatine to wed after 10 years, and Theresa Castino and Mary Kuhn, a Round Lake couple of 22 years, shared similar moments at the brides’ table outside the congregation.

As the music began playing for the four couples’ first wedding dance, both Fleming and Oesterle said they were simply happy they could share their wedding day with others who love them.

“I’m just happy people are recognizing that we should have a right to be married. It took a long time,” Fleming said, before looking over at Oesterle. “And I’m happy that I married her.”